PGH Michigan JAM 2025: FGR, Belleville, Big Rapids

I am excited to announce the release of the upcoming “MICHIGAN JAM” series. During my 2024 summer vacation, I visited an old-school arcade that happened to include an edition of “NBA JAM,” the ultimate retro basketball video game. This game became famous during the 90s at the arcade and on numerous gaming consoles. The original game was released by Midway in 1993 and featured players from NBA rosters. Each NBA team featured two players who competed in 2 on 2 with no subs. Later additions to the game included 3-5 players, which gave gamers the ability to sub new players into the games. The game's exaggerated graphics, high-flying dunks, and lack of fouls made it wildly unique and popular amongst gamers.   <a href="https://videogamehistory.fandom.com/wiki/NBA_Jam">Read more about the history of NBA JAM</a>   MICHIGAN JAM! HS Article Series   This article series, modeled after the original “NBA JAM”, will include 2 players per team. There is an Eastern Conference and a Western Conference. Two high school players from the same team are included as a “Dynamic Duo”. Each player will be assigned a fictitious rating for physical and skill attributes based on the criteria of the original “NBA JAM”. Rating Breakdown: Overall speed/6, Shooting skill from 3 pt/6, Skill at dunking/6, Overall defensive skill/6. The overall rating is out of 24 (rating criteria are modeled using the original “NBA JAM”). Some of the original ratings of players from “NBA JAM”: Tim Hardaway-speed 5/6, 3 pts 4/6, dunks 1/6, defense 4/6, Final 14/24, Charles Barkley-speed 4/6, 3 pts 3/6, dunks 6/6, def 1/6, Final 14/24, Scottie Pippen-speed 5/6, 3 pts 4/6, dunks 6/6, def 5/6, Final 20/24. Best Rated Teams: New York Knicks (33 pts), Charlotte Hornets (32 pts), Chicago Bulls (32 pts no MJ), Sacramento Kings (30)   MICHIGAN JAM! Ratings Explained: 0=Not Observed, 1-2=Rare, 3=Average, 4=Above Average, 5=Advanced, 6=Elite   Speed is ball handling, acceleration, and quickness, 3 pts is shooting 3s efficiently more often than not, Dunks is leaping ability, elevation, and/or height, Defense is steals, deflections, shutting down your position, and Final Rating is the sum of all those categories out of 24 points. As you can see, legends of the NBA game, including Hall of Famers, don't rate over 20! This is meant to be a lighthearted and fun way of learning about some of the great duos in the state and not to be taken too seriously. There were 27 teams in the original “NBA JAM”, but I have expanded the total to 19 teams per conference.   Throughout the next few weeks, each team will have its video game graphic released in articles and on X! With that in mind, let's meet the dynamic duos from Ann Arbor Fa. Gabriel Richard, Belleville, and Big Rapis!   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard Irish</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/08/PGHJam-AnnArborFaGabrielRichard.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1304638" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='613426' first='Vanessa' last='Rodriguez'] and [player_tooltip player_id='613427' first='Ava' last='Rodriguez']   These terrific twins have had a memorable career at F.G.R. Decorated with both team success and individual accolades, these sisters helped build the Irish into a D2 powerhouse that's honestly been one of the most fun teams to watch during my coverage of the past two seasons. Who doesn't love laser beam passing, fast-paced basketball, full-court pressure, and a bombs away three-point attack? Their elusive ball-handling, deadly three-point shooting, floater game, scrappy pressure, and x-ray passing vision make them a daunting backcourt to match up against. Their sudden change of direction has defenders spinning like a top, and they are two of the shiftiest guards in PGH Michigan JAM. Ava and Vanessa make smart and quick decisions with the ball in their hands. Their up-tempo style and sound fundamentals translate to the college game. Vanessa won PGH Junior Player of the Year Honors and Associated Press D2 Player of the Year. The twins will be taking their talents to Western Michigan University in 2026 after they light it up one last time with the Irish.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Belleville Tigers</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/08/PGHJam-Belleville-1.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1304668" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='807274' first='Sydney' last='Savoury'] and [player_tooltip player_id='859826' first='Paisley' last='Stephens']   The highest-rated duo in PGH Michigan Jam, these Tigers are a daunting matchup. [player_tooltip player_id='807274' first='Sydney' last='Savoury'] is the best prospect in Michigan, regardless of class, and she has the high-major offers to back it up. Ranked #1 in Michigan's 2027 class and #15 by ESPN, she's had a scorching hot summer. Fresh off a PGH Sophomore Player of the Year season, she was also named Gatorade Player of the Year. [player_tooltip player_id='859826' first='Paisley' last='Stephens'] has been on a heater this summer as well, coming off a PGH Player of the Year Finalist Freshman season where she teamed up with Savoury to not only lead Belleville back to the State Semifinals, but to a State Championship victory. Paisley is ranked #2 in her class and was a Freshman Showcase First-Teamer in 2024. Paisley is a lockdown defender--relentless pressure; her passing vision is outstanding, and she explodes downhill to score layups off the dribble. When Paisley gets cooking from the perimeter, it's game over. Her clutch performance in the State Finals proved she has no fear in the biggest of moments. Sydney is the most lethal offensive player in PGH Michigan JAM. She's a sniper from beyond the arc, silky smooth shooting pull-up jumpers, a strong finisher at the rim, crafty floater game, tough defender, and clutch performer. Sydney was the most prolific scorer on the EYBL Circuit, averaging an eye-popping 24.8 points per game. Belleville is the D1 favorite, and this dynamic duo will be electric in their second year playing together for the Tigers.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Big Rapids Cardinals</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/08/PGHJam-BigRapids.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1304683" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='808343' first='Nalaya' last='Fricke'] and [player_tooltip player_id='933032' first='Nuray' last='Fricke']   These sisters are a dynamic duo with freakish athleticism that jumps out of the gym. They have a competitive edge and fire that won't back down from anybody. Both are high-flyers with explosive finishing ability around the basket. Nalaya is a slasher who can knife through defenses and find open teammates at the last possible moment for assists. When she heats up outside, defenses have to pick their poison. Nalaya is one of the fiercest on-ball defenders I've seen all summer. Her lateral mobility and aggressiveness give opposing ball-handlers a headache. Nuray might be the younger sister, but she has no timidity in her game. She takes the ball to the basket like a running back sprinting through gaps, absorbs contact, and elevates in the paint. In the video game, these sisters would be slamming dunks like Vince Carter. Nuray is a relentless rebounder, shot blocker, and high-ceiling prospect. She picked up her first D1 offer from Oakland University this month. I've seen Big Rapids multiple times this summer, and these two have convinced me that they belong as a top ten team in D2.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">UPCOMING EVENTS</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/07/The-Expo.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1267338" /></figure>

I am excited to announce the release of the upcoming “MICHIGAN JAM” series. During my 2024 summer vacation, I visited an old-school arcade that happened to include an edition of “NBA JAM,” the ultimate retro basketball video game. This game became famous during the 90s at the arcade and on numerous gaming consoles. The original game was released by Midway in 1993 and featured players from NBA rosters. Each NBA team featured two players who competed in 2 on 2 with no subs. Later additions to the game included 3-5 players, which gave gamers the ability to sub new players into the games. The game's exaggerated graphics, high-flying dunks, and lack of fouls made it wildly unique and popular amongst gamers.